Merchandise display assembly having a crossbar base assembly

ABSTRACT

A merchandise display assembly having a crossbar base assembly and a display container mounted thereon for displaying products above a conventional hanging rack, wherein the crossbar base assembly is for mounting on the upper hangrail of the hanging rack. The crossbar base assembly includes a first crossbar and a second crossbar being disposed perpendicular to each other in the same horizontal plane. The first crossbar includes a first midsection, a first outer section and a second outer section; and the second crossbar includes a first midsection, a first outer section and a second outer section. The first crossbar includes a first notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the first outer section and a second notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the second outer section; and the second crossbar includes a first notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the first outer section and a second notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the second outer section. The first midsection of the first crossbar has a first receiving surface with a reduced thickness for receiving the display container thereon, and the first midsection of the second crossbar has a second receiving surface with a reduced thickness for receiving a display container thereon. The first and second notches of the first and second crossbars are used for engaging and receiving within the notches the upper hangrail of the hanging rack for mounting the crossbar base assembly and the display container thereon. Also, the display container includes a plurality of display compartments on the upper surface thereof for displaying product merchandise in the display compartments.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a merchandise display assembly having acrossbar base assembly and a display container thereon for displayingproducts, clothing, hats, gifts and the like, above a conventionalhanging rack. More particularly, the crossbar base assembly is formounting on an upper hangrail of the hanging rack for securelysupporting thereon the display container having products therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clothing and merchandise display racks for retail stores and departmentstores for displaying products on hanging racks are well known in theart. Display containers for displaying other products above the hangrailof the hanging racks are problematic and suffer from several undesirablelimitations. For example, such display containers have complex mountingstructures and they do not place the products in a position where theycan be easily and readily viewed by a consumer who is standing adjacentto the hangrail. Also, many of these display containers are not capableof displaying a desired amount of products/items above the hangrail andstill comply with display requirements of most mass marketing departmentstores. Further, many retail stores have height limits on how farproducts and signage supported on a display rack can extend above thefloor. Common limits restrict products to fifty-four inches above thefloor and signage to seventy-two inches above the floor. Accordingly,there is a need for a product display system that overcomes the abovedeficiencies and provides a convenient way to display products toconsumers in a manner that causes consumers to be interested inpurchasing the products and to facilitate product stocking.

There remains a need for a new and innovative merchandise/productdisplay assembly that includes a display container for displayingproducts, clothing, hats, gifts, and toys that are mounted on a crossbarbase assembly and, in turn, the crossbar base assembly is mounted on anupper hangrail of a conventional hanging rack. Further, the merchandisedisplay assembly is configured for easy assembly and to maximize productstorage for displaying products above the hanging rack at an optimumposition for viewing and access by the consumer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Merchandise display racks, rotary display stands, product displaysystems, display stands and merchandising bins and the like havingvarious designs, configurations, structures and materials ofconstruction have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S.Application No. 2004/0055982 to JENNINGS discloses a product displaysystem configured for displaying products such as hats above aconventional clothing rack. The display system includes a base assemblyfor supporting the other system components above the rack, a pluralityof product display trays supported on the base assembly for displayingthe products, and a sign assembly supported on the base assembly fordisplaying product information and advertising indicia. The displaysystem enables cross-merchandising at the point of sale by utilizingpreviously unusable space above the conventional circular rack whilestill complying with display requirements of most mass marketing retailstores. The base assembly is formed of wire bars that form modular trusssections and interconnect to form a sloped tray-supporting surface thatextends radially beyond the perimeter of the rack to place the productssupported thereon at an optimum position for viewing and access by theconsumer. The display trays are uniquely configured to enable them to bearranged in a polygonal arrangement on the base assembly to maximizeproduct storage. This prior art publication does not disclose or teachthe design, configuration and structure of the merchandise displayassembly of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,214 to METCALF discloses a merchandise display standfor use as a countertop stand for displaying merchandise, in which atubular support pole is held in an operationally upright position by aground engaging base or pedestal and mounts at least one support memberfrom which merchandise display racks or baskets are suspended outwardlyabout the support pole. This prior art patent does not disclose or teachthe design, configuration and structure of the merchandise displayassembly of the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,634 to TINTARY discloses a rotary display stand foruse as a merchandise display stand which is intended to serve both as ameans for displaying merchandise and as a device for maintaining arelatively large stock of said merchandise in immediate proximity andaccessibility to the display thereof. The display stand is adapted todisplay and stock various types of small articles of hardware. Thisprior art patent does not disclose or teach the design, configurationand structure of the merchandise display assembly of the presentinvention.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,253 to ROSENBERG discloses a rotary bin having anupright central shaft and a series of bin sections mounted at differentlevels on the shaft, each with capacity for rotation relative to theshaft and independently of the others. This prior art patent does notdisclose or teach the design, configuration and structure of themerchandise display assembly of the present invention.

None of the aforementioned prior art references disclose or teach amerchandise display assembly having a display container detachablymounted on a crossbar base assembly and wherein the crossbar baseassembly is detachably mounted to an upper hangrail of a circularhanging rack.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amerchandise display assembly having a display container with a pluralityof individual display compartments therein for displaying products,hardware, clothing, hats, gifts, toys, cosmetics and the like above aconventional hanging rack, and a crossbar base assembly for detachablymounting on an upper hangrail of the hanging rack for securelysupporting thereon the display container having products therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a merchandisedisplay assembly having a crossbar base assembly that includes first andsecond crossbars being disposed in a perpendicular configuration to eachother in the same horizontal plane, such that the crossbar base assemblyis detachably mountable on the upper hangrail of the hanging rack.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a merchandisedisplay assembly where each of the sides of the display containerengages and is held in place by locking edges on each of the first andsecond crossbars of the crossbar base assembly, such that the displaycontainer is detachably mounted on the first and second receivingsurfaces of the first and second crossbars, respectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a merchandisedisplay assembly that is easy to assemble and to mount, and easy toclean and maintain when in operational use at a retail or departmentstore.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a merchandisedisplay assembly having no moving parts that is easy to use and isdurable and easily cleaned for repeated use by the merchandiser.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a merchandisedisplay assembly that can be mass-produced in an automated andeconomical manner and is readily affordable by the merchandiser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided amerchandise display assembly having a crossbar base assembly and adisplay container mounted thereon for displaying products above aconventional hanging rack, wherein the crossbar base assembly is formounting on the upper hangrail of the hanging rack. The crossbar baseassembly includes a first crossbar and a second crossbar being disposedperpendicular to each other in the same horizontal plane. The firstcrossbar includes a first midsection, a first outer section and a secondouter section; and the second crossbar includes a first midsection, afirst outer section and a second outer section. The first crossbarincludes a first notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the firstouter section and a second notch that is formed in the bottom surface ofthe second outer section; and the second crossbar includes a first notchthat is formed in the bottom surface of the first outer section and asecond notch that is formed in the bottom surface of the second outersection. The first midsection of the first crossbar has a firstreceiving surface with a reduced thickness for receiving the displaycontainer thereon, and the first midsection of the second crossbar has asecond receiving surface with a reduced thickness for receiving thedisplay container thereon. The first and second notches of the first andsecond crossbars are used for engaging and receiving within the notchesthe upper hangrail of the hanging rack for mounting the crossbar baseassembly and the display container thereon. Also, the display containerincludes a plurality of display compartments on the upper surfacethereof for displaying product merchandise in the display compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent upon the consideration of the following detaileddescription of the presently-preferred embodiment when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the merchandise display assembly of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention showing a displaycontainer on a crossbar base assembly mounted to an upper hangrail of aclothing rack being in n assembled state and in a fully operationalmode;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the merchandise display assembly of thepresent invention showing the display container having a header card,and the crossbar base assembly having a first crossbar base assemblyhaving a first crossbar and a second crossbar that are perpendicular toeach other in the same horizontal plane

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the merchandise displayassembly of the present invention showing the major component partsthereof;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the merchandise displayassembly of the present invention showing the display container and thecrossbar base assembly being mounted to the upper hangrail of thehanging rack; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the of the merchandise display assembly ofthe present invention showing the display container having a pluralityof individual display compartments thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 10

The merchandise display assembly 10 and its component parts of thepreferred embodiment of the present invention are represented in detailby FIGS. 1 through 5 of the patent drawing. The merchandise displayassembly 10 is used for the displaying of products 12, hardware,clothing, hats, gifts, toys, cosmetics and the like for merchandising toconsumers, such that the merchandise display assembly 10 is detachablymounted on an upper hangrail 14 of the conventional hanging rack 16, asdepicted in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings.

The merchandise display assembly 10 includes a detachable displaycontainer 20 mounted on a crossbar base assembly 40. The displaycontainer 20 includes a display housing 22 being substantiallyrectangularly-shaped. The display housing 22 includes a base member 24having side walls 26 a, 26 b, 26 c and 26 d for forming an interiorcompartment 28. The interior compartment 28 includes a plurality ofindividual display compartments 30 a, 30 b, 30 c, 30 d, 30 e and 30 fhaving a middle wall 32 for separating display compartments 30 a to 30 cfrom the remaining display compartments 30 d to 30 f. Middle wall 32 canbe replaced by a header wall card 34 having indicia 36 thereon for alsoseparating display compartments 30 a to 30 c from the remaining displaycompartments 30 d to 30 f. Additionally, display compartments 30 a to 30c are also further subdivided by angled separating divider walls 38 aand 38 c and display compartments 30 d to 30 f are subdivided by angledseparating divider walls 38 c and 38 d, respectively, as shown in FIGS.3 and 5 of the drawings. The display container 20 can include othergeometric shapes, such as a square, a circle or an oval depending uponthe size and shape of the clothing rack 16. Also, rack 16 may be ofvarious shapes, such as circular, oval, square or rectangular. Further,the merchandise display assembly 10, and its component parts, includingdisplay container 20 and the crossbar base assembly 40 may be made fromconstruction materials selected from the group consisting of wood,cardboard, plastic, lightweight metals (such as aluminum) andcombinations thereof.

The crossbar base assembly 40, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes afirst crossbar 42 and a second crossbar 62. The first crossbar 42 andsecond crossbar 62 are joined and connected at a center point C_(P),such that each of the crossbars are disposed in a perpendicularconfiguration P to each other and being in the same horizontal planeH_(P) to each other. Each of the first and second crossbars 42 and 62are joined and connected at the center point C_(P) of first midsections44 and 64, respectively, by a connecting device, such as a nut and bolt,gluing, welding, dowling, screws or opposing joint notches 43 and thelike. The first crossbar 42 includes a first midsection 44, a firstouter section 46 and a second outer section 48. The second crossbar 62includes a first midsection 64, a first outer section 66 and a secondouter section 68. The first crossbar 42 includes a first notch 50 formedin a first bottom surface 52 of the first outer section 46 and a secondnotch 54 formed in a second bottom surface 56 of the second outersection 48. The second crossbar 62 includes a first notch 70 formed in afirst bottom surface 72 of the first outer section 66 and a second notch74 formed in a second bottom surface 76 of the second outer section 68.

Further, the first midsection 44 of the first crossbar 42 includes afirst receiving surface S_(R1) having a first reduced thickness T_(R1)for receiving the display container 20 thereon (the length L of displaycontainer 20), and the first midsection 66 of the second crossbar 62includes a second receiving surface S_(R2) having a second reducedthickness T_(R2) for receiving the display container 20 thereon (thewidth W of display container 20). The first notches 50 and 54, andsecond notches 70 and 74 of the first and second crossbars 42 and 62,respectively, are for engaging and receiving within the notches 50, 54,70 and 74 the upper hangrail 14 of the clothing rack 16 for mounting thecrossbar base assembly 40 and the detachable display container 20thereon.

Additionally, at the junction J₁ of the first midsection 44 and thefirst outer section 46 of the first crossbar 42 there is formed a firstlocking edge 45 and the first locking edge 45 is for engaging andholding in place the first side 26 a of the display container 20; and atthe junction J₂ of the first midsection 44 and the second outer section48 of the first crossbar 42 there is formed a second locking edge 47 andthe second locking edge 47 is for engaging and holding in place thesecond side 26 b of the display container 20. Also, at the junction J₃of the first midsection 64 and the first outer section 66 of the secondcrossbar 62 there is formed a third locking edge 65 and the thirdlocking edge 65 is for engaging and holding in place the third side 26 cof the display container 20; and at the junction J₄ of the firstmidsection 64 and the second outer section 68 of the second crossbar 62there is formed a fourth locking edge 67 and the fourth locking edge 67is for engaging and holding in place the fourth side 26 d of displaycontainer 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the patent drawings.

It is understood that the first and second crossbars 42 and 62 of thecrossbar base assembly 40 can have a tubular shape or arectangular/square bar shape depending upon the type of materials used,such as wood, cardboard, lightweight plastics, lightweight metals(aluminum) or combinations thereof.

The physical dimensions of the display container are as follows: Thewidth W is 13 inches, the length L is 25 inches and the height is 6inches. Each of the individual product display compartments 30 a to 30 dhave a width of 8 inches and a depth of 6 inches. Each of the dividerwalls 38 a to 38 d have a thickness of one half inch. Middle wall 32 hasa height of 6 inches, a length of 24 inches and a wall thickness of onehalf inch. The header wall card 34 has a height of 12 inches, a lengthof 24 inches and a wall thickness of one half inch.

The physical dimensions of the crossbar base assembly 40 are as follows:Each of the first and second crossbars 42 and 62 have a length of 33inches and a width of ¾ of an inch. Each of the first and second outersections 46 and 48 of the first crossbar 42 have a length of 4 inches, awidth of ¾ of an inch and a height of 2 inches. Each of the first andsecond outer sections 66 and 68 of the second crossbar 62 have a lengthof 10 inches, a width of ¾ of an inch and a height of 2 inches. Thefirst receiving surface S_(R1) (first midsection 44) of the firstcrossbar 42 has a first reduced thickness T_(R1) of ¾ of an inch, alength of 25 inches and a width of ¾ of an inch. The second receivingsurface S_(R2) (first midsection 64) of the second crossbar 62 has asecond reduced thickness T_(R2) of ¾ of an inch, a length of 13 inchesand a width of ¾ of an inch. Each of the first and second notches 50 and54, and 70 and 74 of the first and second crossbars 42 and 62,respectively, have a center to center length of 30 inches. Each of thefirst and second notches 50 and 54, and 70 and 74 of the first andsecond crossbars 42 and 62, respectively, have a height of ¾ of an inch,a width of ¾ of an inch, and a thickness of ¾ of an inch within each ofthe first and second outer sections 46 and 48, and 66 and 68,respectively, of the first and second crossbars 42 and 62.

OPERATION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the merchandise display assembly 10operates in the following manner: The user initially opens a containerbox (not shown) and removes the display container 20 and the crossbarbase assembly 40, in order for the user to assemble the individualdisplay container 20 and the crossbar base assembly 40. Next, the userassembles the plurality of display compartments 30 a to 30 f usingdivider walls 38 a to 38 d within the interior compartment 28 of displayhousing 22, using either middle wall 32 or header card wall 34 havingindicia 36 thereon. The user now assembles each of the first and secondcrossbars 42 and 62, such that the first and second crossbars are joinedand mated together at a center point C_(P), where each of the crossbars42 and 62 are disposed in a perpendicular configuration P to each otherand are in the same horizontal plane H_(P) to each other. Also, each ofthe first and second crossbars 42 and 62 are joined and mated togetherat the center point C_(P) of first midsections 44 and 64, respectively,by a connecting device, such as a nut and bolt, welding, dowling,gluing, screws, opposing joint notches 43 or the like. The user nowplaces the display container 20 within the crossbar base assembly 40such that each of the locking edges 45, 47, 65 and 67 of the first andsecond crossbars 42 and 62 engage and hold in place the container sides26 a to 26 d, respectively (see FIG. 5). Now, the user places thenotches 50, 54, 70 and 74 of crossbars 42 and 62 on the upper hangrail14 of clothing rack 16, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 of the patentdrawings. In the last step, the user places the product, such as hats12, within each of the individual product display compartments 30 a to30 d, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, so the merchandise display assembly 10is in full operational use.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is that it providesfor a merchandise display assembly having a display container with aplurality of individual display compartments therein for displayingproducts, hardware, clothing, hats, gifts, toys, cosmetics and the likeabove a conventional hanging rack, and a crossbar base assembly fordetachably mounting on an upper hangrail of the hanging rack forsecurely supporting thereon the display container having productstherein.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for amerchandise display assembly having a crossbar base assembly thatincludes first and second crossbars being disposed in a perpendicularconfiguration to each other in the same horizontal plane, such that thecrossbar base assembly is detachably mountable on the upper hangrail ofthe hanging rack.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for amerchandise display assembly where each of the sides of the displaycontainer engages and is held in place by locking edges on each of thefirst and second crossbars of the crossbar base assembly, such that thedisplay container is detachably mounted on the first and secondreceiving surfaces of the first and second crossbars, respectively.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for amerchandise display assembly that is easy to assemble and to mount, andeasy to clean and maintain when in operational use at a retail ordepartment store.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides for amerchandise display assembly having no moving parts that is easy to useand is durable and easily cleaned for repeated use by the merchandiser.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides for amerchandise display assembly that can be mass-produced in an automatedand economical manner and is readily affordable by the merchandiser.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

1. A merchandise display assembly having a crossbar base assembly and adisplay container mounted thereon for displaying products above aconventional hanging rack, wherein said crossbar base assembly is formounting on the upper hangrail of the hanging rack, comprising: a) acrossbar base assembly including a first crossbar and a second crossbarbeing disposed perpendicular to each other in the same horizontal plane;b) said first crossbar including a first midsection, a first outersection and a second outer section; c) said second crossbar including afirst midsection, a first outer section and a second outer section; d)said first crossbar including a first notch formed in the bottom surfaceof said first outer section and a second notch formed in the bottomsurface of said second outer section; e) said second crossbar includinga first notch formed in the bottom surface of said first outer sectionand a second notch formed in the bottom surface of said second outersection; f) said first midsection of said first crossbar having a firstreceiving surface having a reduced thickness for receiving said displaycontainer thereon, and said first midsection of said second crossbarhaving a second receiving surface having a reduced thickness forreceiving said display container thereon; g) said first and secondnotches of said first and second crossbars for engaging and receivingwithin said notches the upper hangrail of the hanging rack for mountingsaid crossbar base assembly and said display container thereon; and h)said display container having a plurality of display compartments on theupper surface thereof for displaying product merchandise in said displaycompartments.
 2. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim1, wherein the junction of said first midsection and said first outersection of said first crossbar forms a first locking edge, said firstlocking edge for engaging and holding in place a first side of saiddisplay container.
 3. A merchandise display assembly in accordance withclaim 1, wherein the junction of said first midsection and said secondouter section of said first crossbar forms a second locking edge, saidsecond locking edge for engaging and holding in place a second side ofsaid display container.
 4. A merchandise display assembly in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the junction of said first midsection and saidfirst outer section of said second crossbar forms a third locking edge,said third locking edge for engaging and holding in place a third sideof said display container.
 5. A merchandise display assembly inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the junction of said first midsectionand said second outer section of said second crossbar forms a fourthlocking edge, said fourth locking edge for engaging and holding in placea fourth side of said display container.
 6. A merchandise displayassembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said first andsecond crossbars are connected to each other to form said crossbarassembly.
 7. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim 6,wherein each of said first and second crossbars are connected by a nutand bolt, welding, dowling, glueing, screws or opposing joint notches.8. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim 1, whereineach of said first and second crossbars have a tubular shape.
 9. Amerchandise display assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each ofsaid first and second crossbars have a bar shape.
 10. A merchandisedisplay assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said merchandisedisplay assembly is made from materials selected from the groupconsisting of cardboard, lightweight plastic, lightweight metal, wood orcombinations thereof.
 11. A merchandise display assembly in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said display container includes a display headerhaving indicia thereon.
 12. A merchandise display assembly in accordancewith claim 11, wherein said display header is centrally positionedwithin said plurality of display compartments of said display container.13. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim 1, whereineach of said first and second notches of said first and secondcrossbars, respectively, have a height of ¾ of an inch, a width of ¾ ofan inch and a thickness of ¾ of an inch.
 14. A merchandise displayassembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said first andsecond crossbars have a length of 33 inches, and a width of ¾ of aninch.
 15. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim 1,wherein each of said first and second outer sections of said firstcrossbar have a length of 4 inches, a width of ¾ of an inch and a heightof 2 inches.
 16. A merchandise display assembly in accordance with claim1, wherein each of said first and second outer sections of said secondcrossbar have a length of 10 inches, a width of ¾ of an inch and aheight of 2 inches.
 17. A merchandise display assembly in accordancewith claim 1, wherein said first receiving surface of said firstcrossbar has said reduced thickness of ¾ of an inch, a length of 25inches and a width of ¾ of an inch.
 18. A merchandise display assemblyin accordance with claim 1, wherein said second receiving surface ofsaid second crossbar has said reduced thickness of ¾ of an inch, alength of 13 inches and a width of ¾ of an inch.
 19. A merchandisedisplay assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first andsecond notches of said first and second crossbars, respectively, have acenter to center length of 30 inches.
 20. A merchandise display assemblyin accordance with claim 1, wherein said display container includesgeometric shapes selected from the group consisting of an oval, acircle, a square and a rectangle.